Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-01-28
TIM.


picture had appsalel TO her imagination
without in any way touching her heart she
had regarded the pathetic little figure rs
possible subject hut no tenderer feeling
moved her.
Tim posed as a model In the Suffolk street
studio for some hours every day, and the
painting was beginning to look liie-like un.
der the artists SAiliul fingers. Encouraged |
by her careless questioning, the boy poured
forth the whole OF his pitiul history, uncou
scous thai his words fell on inattentire |
ears. Nothing was hidden from her. His
poverty, his loneliness his passionate |
love for Smut sil were laid bare before the /
girl whose interest in him was purely sell
lsh, whose questions were prompted solely |
by the desire 70 keep him quiet Tim,
however, WAS happily ignorant OF her In
difference, aud her apparent sweetness |
awakened IN him devotion which hued his |
hungry little soul with enthusiasm. lie |
thought OF her az one far removed from the |
rsst of the world-ss being free from every |
taint of evil A sense OF his own uuworthi. |
ness took possession OF him, aud weighed |
heavily on his loving heart lie had told her |
that he was good ooy--thst he went reSu.
lsrly TO church and Sunday school, and
the remembrance Of this had become un.
besrsble to him.
Ashe walked slowly down Suffolk street
one morning mighty resolve formed Itself
in bis mind. He ran up stairs hurrietlNr
fearing that his courage might iOrsake hun
II he gave himself time for thought and hls
first feeling on finding the room uuocc npted
was one of disappointment smut cuTled
himself mp 10 his usual corner near the win
dow, and Tim stationed himself before tue
easel, looking bitterly at the ragged figure
which met bis gaze.
You good boy he SAID, regarding
| the painting contemptuously. You look
| like II, don't you? Your little games bout
done, ole man you see he last Of her. "
He took his place quietly when she came
in, his heart heavlng heavily under his
ragged Jacket ss be gsEed out silently upon
| the patch OF gray sky. The unusual silence
| struck the girl, and she regarded him with
something akin 10 interest IS he stood there
| with the light falling upon his rigid little
| fsoe.
| What makes you so quiet to day, Tim
Has Smut been bad dog ~
| "No, It Amt Smut " returned the boy
dresrily. " It's me that's been bad. "
| I" Why what have you dCueY' she asked
| her eyes growing warm with amusement
| Twas the very frst day come here, ~
| he said, In the same dreary tones, never
| removing his gaze from the window.
told you crsmmer, said as how went to
church and to Sunday SCHOOL "
"And it wss not true? - she questioned
lightly.
q Never been Inside ohurch-'cept TO
warm myself, " he answered dOggedly.
Never beeu to sunday school in all my
| born DAYS
"whst made you tell such story ;" sh
inquired, the lNdicrous side OF the scene
alone striking her.
WANTED you TO think was good
chap, he returned in a low, shsmed voice.
You said you'd give me thriPence day
| II ! was a good boy.
she asked curiously. "Is 1t because you
know that cannot finish the picture with
| out youT"
mo, it amt r' he answered roughly,
looking round from the window for the erst
"wby, then ~
"pon'tknow 'xsckly, hut it stint that, "
he said more quietly.
"Don't you know that 1t IL very naughty
to tell stories she questioned, with al un.
comfortable sense that some rebuse WAS re-
Gulred of her. "
"s,poss SO, " he answered humbly.
"Wei, we'll say no more about it, she
said vaguely. But don't do Il egain. "
When Tin entered the studio next day he
found Miss Munro sitting before her easel,
looking pale aud lsDguid.
] shall not want you this morning she
said wearily. am not well enough TO
| paint to day"
{" You look awful white" said the boy
! gently.
/" You can come to morrow IS usual, she
continued In the same suodued tone "
. dare say shall be ft for work To morrow. "
Hope you'll feel better soon, be said as
he awkwardly moved away.
| He walked slowly down the street and
along the embankment, his dog tIotting
| close at his heels thin, gray mist hung
, over the river, yelling the opposite shore
from view, As he locked though tiuily
across the stretch OF water his eyes absently
followed a boat as 1t silently beams vi.ibls
| out OF the mist and as silently melted away
into 1t once more Smut jumped up upon
= the wall presently, and sat there looking
, down gravely into the gloomy water Tim
, patied the dog with an absent air, and " hen
/ ne spoke his voice was low aud sad.
She said as how she was poor that hrst
night" he whispered broksnly, and I've
never given 1t a thought She lays ou,
| thrlrAnpA q tav that pfptnrl iPGs GhSf-
sgoin' 10 sell it. Just Ike ne and my
ing in"
smu, was quick to read the sadness in his
masters tone, and he pressed his head cl ose
against the ragged Jacket with an inarticuIate
murmur OF sympathy.
"You're sorry, aint you, ole chspT' con.
t;nued the hoy wistfully. "You love her too,
| don't your
Smut wagged his tall unenthuslastIcally. y.
II was his private belief that his master over.
rated Miss Munro's charms.
She's bard up" said Tim, after pause.
"She's dE'uE hard up, Smut She aipt got
no money to buy any breakfast-thars why
she looked so white And rse had bread and
hot cofieew he ended, with a sob.
For some minutes he was silent His eyes
wide and miserable as they rested on the
| gray stretch OF water but his face cleared
presently and a smile parted the small lips
| "pye got n.y. he cried trium phantly, rails.
| Ing his arms from the wall. "lll tell her to-
|
II was with shy eagernsss th at Tim entered
the studio the next day. His little face was
| pale and pinched, for he had tasted no food
that morning; but his expression was one Of
entire happiness. In his hand he carried a
parcel done up in diRgy piece of ne wspspsr
and this he proceeded to lay tImitiy upon
the girls lap.
"Why, what is =" she questioned, re,
garding the boy curiously from her high
stool as she sat before tue easel, at feels
| quite b."
"Its-it's 'tsters," he said aWkwardly.
| "I0tdtOe5.' she echoed ia amazement
"Tney're--I brought em for you," he ex.
planned, rubbing one thin leg against the
other nervously. Most think roast 'taters
prime-l never touch 'em myself - he added
, hastily no more does Smut Come here
sir :" as the dog snuhed lOnginGly at the par.
Gel still lying unopened on the girls lap
She looked helplessly from the parcel 10
the boy and back at the parcel again, and
then the room rung with her merry laugh.
THANK you" she said as soon as she o could
speak. "I-l will look at them presently Y.
WIN you put them in the fender-for the pres
ent2"
Tim experienced vague feeling Of disap.
pointment as he silently obeyed. lie had
hoped 70 have the pleasure of seeing her eat
these potatoes, for which he and Smut had
gone break iastless this bitter morning, and
, her laughter had panied without enlighten.
ing him. lie was almost glad whom at
length she told him that he mi ght go, for he
did not feel at ease In her presence today"
"Here is your money" she said NIt is
. six'pence this morning / forgot to pay you
I yesterday"
"Keep it he said awkwardlv uEaar